Archbishop Gregory Aymond recently hosted an interfaith breakfast gathering of 30 West Bank religious leaders for a morning of prayer and discussion on key issues affecting the region. The event, which took place at Café Hope in Marrero, included clergy members from several different denominations.

Pastor Chip Radke performs a few musical selections during the interfaith prayer breakfast that recently took place at Cafe Hope in Marrero.

Luis Arocha, executive director of Café Hope, said he was honored to host the breakfast.

“It’s so encouraging, because we work with the kids that need help every day,” he said. “So, to see a community of religious leaders come together to try to work on these problems and solve the problems that we’re having, is huge. I think that says a lot about where we are and where we need to go.”

Gordon Wadge, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, said it’s important for leaders to work as a team.

“We come together as a people in our community around the table,” he said. “The more we get to know each other and build that trust and break down some barriers, the more we can work together.”

Wadge said, along with fostering discussion and teamwork, the gathering also gave the religious leaders an opportunity to commune with one another.

“It really allowed the faith community from the West Bank to meet each other,” he said. “It allowed them to see what we share in common, to pray together and talk about what we can do together in the community. So, I think we all appreciate that, individually as a given church, we can’t do much, but collectively as a faith community, we can do a lot.”

Arocha said the most important outcome of the event centered on helping to make the community better as a whole.

“I think it’s about communication, and I don’t know how many times as a community we’re able to get together and really have some meaningful discussions about what’s going on in the community and how we can work as one to solve it,” he said. “It’s not about this church or that church, but it’s about a community coming together. We have some kids that are in crisis, and this is about a community coming together to solve issues and help these kids get out of the crisis that they’re in; the drugs and helplessness.